Flatten That Box!

We are home. SIGH.

There's still a lot of "where should this go?" and "why do we keep moving this?" but we are making progress.

I've been seriously addicted to HGTV for the past month, even DVR-ing episodes that I think could help me decorate this house. I find myself drawn to contemporary, modern designs, and I've had fun trying to implement that here.

I haven't taken the plunge with paint yet, but hopefully it will come...

I know, where are the pictures? Give it time, people. I've got to find the camera first...

Here we go again...

We have become quite the moving family over the past few years, but this time it's not across the country, it's only around the corner!

It's been such a blessing to live in this house while our Texas house was still for sale, but that was awhile ago and we've been looking for housing ever since.

We had thought about building, but right now, buying a home seemed to be the best option.

Dozens and dozens of house-hunting expeditions later, we found our place. Four bedrooms! Swing Set in the back!

So, I'll be out of the loop for a few days, but look late next week for photos and updates.

When Hope Smiles

Mother's Day / Hope's Dedication

Lovin' Cousin
Jonathan dances during the dedication...
cousins!

Plan B should've been Plan A

I am not my face; I am not my body. I am a child of the King and my heart belongs to Him.

After having 4 babies, I am learning to be OK with whatever shape my body is in. That being said, this time of year is always...mm...frustrating.

While talking with a couple of friends over the past few weeks, our conversation wandered into the impending-swimsuit-season-panic that May can bring. So, yesterday I kicked it into high gear and started my never-fail, Phase One of the South Beach Diet.

But I forgot one minor detail: breastfeeding.

Little Sister was NOT down with the South Beach.

She had the fussiest day on record and it took me the entire day to figure it out.

So, Plan B. Kick South Beach to the curb for the next few months and CHILLAX.

Have a fun summer.

Get my thoughts off of myself and play in the water with my precious children who could care less what I look like in a bathing suit.

Generations

Happy Mother's Day to the strong, beautiful women who have taught me what it means to be a mother, a wife, a lover of Jesus.

Confessions

Suddenly, I've become highly irritated with well-meaning strangers in public. Don't ask me how old she is, don't talk to her, don't talk to me - ENOUGH!!





I'm a mean, horrible person and I want to be left alone.





I would also like to wear a sign that says, "My baby is not hungry or tired, she is crying because she is a baby. AIN'T NO BABY EVER DIED FROM CRYIN'!!"



Alright, that felt good.

Baby girl took her first trip to Wisconsin this past weekend. Aaron's grandmother got to see her for the first time, along with lots of lovin' from other family members in the area.

Grandma's shirt says "TGIF - This Grandma is terrific!"

Me too, sweetie.

Guess What?

Twizzlers really do make mouths happy.

Weekend Getaway, or How Mama Kept from Losing Her Ever-Lovin' Mind

This has officially been the longest winter I've ever experienced, so when it looked like we were going to get another weekend with snow, I pleaded with Aaron for a spontaneous getaway.

There's a cool Holiday Inn with a waterpark that was built last year outside Minneapolis, and that's where we took our crew for some desperately needed distraction.

The waterpark has a Venetian theme, so here are the guys in their gondola...

"Daddy's coming to get me!!"
Cool Photo Ops